To mark his 80th
birthday, 23rd of this month, Joao de Deus Cardozo, the elder and the only brother of
renown Goan personality, a multi talented man Tomazinho Cardozo, organized a
get together of his relatives, friends, colleagues and well wishers. Since I received his invitation card thru the
crawling Postal System, I could not attend it.
But after receiving his invitation card 4 days late, I wished him though
belatedly, all the best and again I am wishing him now thru this forum all the
best. “Wishing you a very happy 80th
Birthday, Cardoso. May God bless you with
good health”.
First of all we must thank the
Almighty God for giving an opportunity for our friend to celebrate his 80th
birthday while for so many of other friends and colleagues and relatives God
has not given this opportunity, not only to celebrate their 80th
birthday but not even 80 months; why 80
months, in fact not even 80 days. Thank God for showing benevolence to my
friend. To mark this great and auspicious day Joao de Deus released a book written beautifully
by his younger brother Tomazinho Cardozo – Ex Sarpanch of Candolim and Ex
Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly. It was originally written by Tomazinho in
Konkani and translated excellently into English by Irene Cardozo – wife of Tomazinho.
Both the versions are in one book only. Both
the versions are beautifully scripted indicating the mastery over both the
languages.
Also released an Audio CD of his
songs. He was an ace Tiatrist once but now only occasionally he participates
due to ill health.
In this book Tomazinho Cardozo
detailed the calamities his brother and their whole family faced from the time
Joao attained the age of 10 whence their father died. It reminded me of the somewhat
miserable life young Fantine faces in that great epic “Les Miserables” by French writer
Victor Hugo. What a pitiable and hard life Joao faces to be the bread winner
for him, for his brother and mother from the age of 10 when miserable
circumstances forced him to act like a man of 20 years !! These and other
details very beautifully indicated by Tomazinho Cardozo in this book where you
also see the rise of Joao as a successful businessman as he is now.
I feel more and more people
coming from financially weaker segment should read this book and learn how to
come up in life.
My interaction with both of them was very early though with Tomazinho earlier because the age difference between two of us is only 2, he was senior. We were colleagues on soccer field and in other activities too in our village. I always found both the brothers calm and cool, never using bad words, both were disciplined and God fearing. He was longest serving Sarpanch of our village but never I heard anybody saying he was involved in doing corruption to make money.
The Audio CD “DEVAK ARGAM” consists
of 12 songs such as solos, duets, trios and quartets, all are Joao’s
compositions but rendered by Joao himself, his children, his brother, his
sister-in-law and others. All songs are well composed and well rendered but the
title song is most beautiful which should be if possible introduced into the
Church as was done in the past. Musical score was provided by Mukesh Ghatwal.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
